About Us

WHAT IS U.S. CHUNG DO KWAN

In 1942, a gentleman by the name of Won Kuk Yi (pronounced Lee) founded a unique method of teaching TaeKwonDo to a group of
students rather than “one on one.” He called his method of teaching “Chung Do Kwan,” which can be translated several ways, such as “The Great Blue Wave” and many other translations relating to man’s first source of power-“the force of water.” However, GrandMaster Sell prefers to use the translation “a mighty wave smashing against a rocky shore,” meaning that the power of water striking against any living of lifeless form on earth will win. Today, Chung Do Kwan is one of Korea ‘s strongest TaeKwonDo training systems and Mr. Won Kuk Yi (1907-2003) has been given the title as a Great Great GrandMaster and Founder, and is a National Treasure in South Korea.

In 1967, GrandMaster Sell founded the American branch of the TaeKwonDo Chung Do Kwan Association, with the emphasis on strict discipline, shifting of body weight at the point of impact, and many other teaching techniques that would inspire the American student. In a very short time he realized that he had created the beginning of a “scale model” TaeKwonDo institute that would be responsible for setting high standards throughout the Eastern part of the United States . In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, many schools attempted to imitate the teaching methods that GrandMaster Sell created, but failed, due to lack of leadership ability.

USCDKA HISTORY

1961/ Grandmaster Sell begins his training while stationed at Osan Air Force Base in Seoul Korea.

1962/ Promoted to First Degree Black Belt

1963/ First Foreigner to compete in the first National Korean Championship (won 3rd place)

1964/ Promoted to 2nd Degree Black Belt

1967/ Forms the “Korea TaeKwonDo Association of America” in Trenton Michigan. Later in 1974 renames it to the US Chung Do Kwan Association.

1969/ Writes the first American TaeKwonDo Textbook, “Forces of TaeKwonDo”

1970/ Establishes 20 schools across Southeast Michigan.

1972/ Awarded International Referee Official and Master’s Degree.

1973/ Grandmaster Sell is a delegate at the organizing conference of the World TaeKwonDo Federation.

1974/ USA Team Coach for the 1st World TKD Championships in Seoul.

1975/ First American to be an International Referee in the First World Games.

1979/ Relocated USCDKA World Headquarters from Michigan to Lakeland, Florida.

1981/ Founded the “Sell Team Ministry”

1985/ Grandmaster Sell ordained as a Christian Minister.

1987/ Promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt by the World Chung Do Kwan Association.

1988/ Appointed to WTF Public Relations Committee for 1988 Olympics.

1991/ Promoted to 8th Degree Black Belt by the World TaeKwonDo Federation.

1994/ The Sell Family created the first computer CD-ROM on all Taeguek forms.

1997/ Promoted to World Chung Do Kwan 9th Degree Black Belt

1999/ First USCDKA World Training Conference

2000/ Only TaeKwonDo Demonstration Team to perform at West Point.

2001/ September 11, 2001 – Grandmaster Sell tests and passes the World TaeKwonDo Federation (WTF – Kukkiwon) 9th Degree Black Belt, making him the highest ranking WTF Black Belt outside of Korea. The promotion was conducted at the World TKD Federation Headquarters in Seoul Korea.

2004/ Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell becomes the President of the USCDKA. Grandmaster Edward B. Sell retains the title of CEO.

The following is taken from “The Forces of TaeKwonDo” by Grandmaster Edward B. Sell and Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell:

On March 25, 1967 Air Force Staff Sergeant Edward B. Sell received and honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force after serving eight years on active duty. His one hope and dream was to some day open his own Korean Karate (TaeKwonDo) Studio and build it into a national organization, so that others may benefit from his newly found “Way of Life.”

In the summer of 1967, it was decide the Trenton , Michigan would be the site of his first studio. Many repairs and much remodeling were needed. With the help of his three brothers Tom, Ray, and Ron, the studio was opened in a very short time with very limited funds that were available.

August 18, 1967 the Trenton Karate Studio held its first class session with twenty-five enthusiastic beginners under the command of Master Instructor Edward B. Sell.

The strict discipline and “hard core” training molded these white belts into hard fighters whose reputation began to spread throughout the East Coast shortly after entering their first tournament in June 1968, when eight students brought home twelve 1st and 2nd place trophies and the Overall Club Championship Trophy. The impressive association patch worn by all the students’ uniforms began to be feared by many competitors of other Karate Schools.

Today, Master Sell’s dream has been fulfilled, as the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association is indeed a National Organization and is growing even beyond Master Sell’s expectations. Master Sell is presently organizing a consultant firm, in hopes of helping other TaeKwonDo and Karate Institutes expand in order that the martial arts may continue to grow at an even faster pace.

It is felt by Master Sell that the Martial Arts is still its infancy in the United States . Teaching, Demonstrating, Conducting Seminars, and Tournaments are ways in which Master Sell and the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association are promoting the arts. The future of martial arts remains with all Black Belts who dedicate themselves to the principles and teachings of the TaeKwonDo and Karate.

OUR FOUNDER

Grandmaster Edward B. Sell is the highest ranked non-oriental in the world in Taekwondo. His Taekwondo credentials and reputation are world renown. He has more than fifty years of experience in the research, teaching, and performing of the World’s most effective martial arts (Taekwondo Chung Do Kwan).

He is the founding President of one of the oldest Taekwondo institutions in America, the United States Chung Do Kwan Association (USCDKA) est. 1967. Sr. Grandmaster Sell was proclaimed A Living Legend in Takewondo by the Korean Government in 2010. A team of journalist was sent to the United States to document 22 legends of America. Sr. Grandmaster Sell was the only native-born American to be honored with this distinguished title.

He offers credentials and business consulting to Black Belts who wish to excel in the profession of teaching Taekwondo. Grandmaster Sell developed a unique Instructors Degree system to keep the retention of high-ranking black belts. He is also known throughout the world for his brick & concrete breaking abilities, impressive world-class stage performances and high impact Taekwondo seminars.

He and his wife, Grandmaster Brenda Sell, 9th Dan, of more than 37 years, also a Grandmaster, work side by side daily as the administrators of the USCDKA. They also offer world-class stage presentations, promoting Taekwondo and speaking inspiring messages into people’s lives; receiving many assignments directly from the U.S. Pentagon enabling them to speak and perform at hundreds of military installations throughout the world. Very few husband and wife teams work so effectively to have such an extraordinary impact to everyone who witnesses their presentations or seminars.

Our Kwan’Jang

Grandmaster Brenda J. Sell has spent a lifetime in the pursuit and promotion of Taekwondo. She began her training at age 14 in Michigan, USA. There she realized her love for the sport. Within two years, she was awarded her 1st Dan. Since then, has been a professional teacher of Taekwondo, an accomplished tournament competitor, an international referee, a Taekwondo performer, an ordained minister, and President of the U.S. Chung Do Kwan Association.

Even though retired from competition in the late 1970s, she set the groundwork for women in Taekwondo competition. She competed and placed in many tournaments, many of them against both males and females. In 1983, was honored for her accomplishments, and was asked by the Secretary General of the WTF to come to Korea for a demonstration of women’s competition at the Pre-World Championships. Her greatest accomplishment was becoming the 1st female to pass the WTF International Referee Exam in 1977. Even though she successfully passed the exam, there was not a female division for competition. Female competition was a demonstration event only, and female referees were not accepted as official referees. It took ten years before women would be accepted and would be recognized in her position as an international referee. In 1988, , along with two other female referees became the first women to referee an international event.

Grandmaster Sell has officially secured the title of the highest ranked non-Korean female in the world of Taekwondo, according to the Kukkiwon. She is also only the 2nd female to do so, making her the 2nd highest ranked female Taekwondo practitioner in the world. Her testing, equally historic, was the first ever high dan Kukkiwon testing ever given outside of Seoul, Korea. The testing was held in 2017, in Denver, Colorado.

1970/ January 6, began Taekwondo

1970-75/ Tournament Competitor

1972/ Awarded black belt

1977/ First female awarded International Referee Certification by WTF

1978/ Awarded the 4th degree and master rank

1981/ Co founder of Evangelistic Taekwondo Exhibitions

1983/ Invited to Korea by WTF officials for debut of international female competition at the 1st Pre-World Games, Seoul, Korea given in her honor.

1985/ Began U.S. Military Crusades with her husband, Sr. Grandmaster Edward B. Sell and the Sell Team.

1986/ U.S. Military Crusade/Demonstration Team to troops throughout Alaska

1987/ Appointed as International Referee for First Women’s World and 8th World Taekwondo Championships in Barcelona, Spain.

1988/ Awarded Black Belt of the Decade.

1988/ U.S. Military Crusade/Demonstration Team to troops in Germany.

1989/ Receives Letter of Citation from WTF for her contribution to Taekwondo.

1990/ Receives promotion to 2nd Class International Referee, WTF.

1995/ Becomes first female promoted to 7th Dan by Grandmaster Park, World Chung Do Kwan Association.

1996/ Completes, with her family, the first computerized CD Rom training system of all WTF Taguek Poomse.